Jacky Moore Esch

GLEASON, Tenn.  - Services for Jacky Moore Esch, 89, of Gleason  are Monday March 20, 2023 at 2 p.m. at Gleason First Baptist Church.

Visitation begins Sunday at 3 p.m. at Gleason First Baptist Church and lasts until 7 pm. It will resume Monday at noon at the church and continue until time of service.

He was born February 8, 1934 and died March 17, 2023.

Three children survive Jacky; Cheryl Ward and husband, Jim of McKenzie, Cheri Wharton of Gleason, and Shey (Janet) Esch all of Gleason. He also leaves behind sisters, Peg Stewart of Gleason, and Patty Tiley of Medina; along with eight grandchildren and twenty great-grandchildren. Jacky is preceded in death by his wife, Betty Jean Esch, parents, Leland and Edith Esch, and brothers, Jerry Wayne Esch and Bobby Esch. Williams Funeral Home of Gleason.

Jacky worked for the state and then as a plant manager for many years in Gleason’s ball clay mining industry.
It’s a family business, as daughter Cheryl Ward is chief operating officer of Old Hickory Clay Company.
 Jacky and Betty married  February 12, 1954 and shared their lives together for 62 years until her death in 2016.
Jacky was a devoted member of the Gleason Rotary Club for over 60 years. Whenever there was a need in the community, Jacky Esch was always the first to mobilize volunteers and fundraise for the cause.
He raised thousands and secured as much in in-kind donations to save the Gleason Rotary Senior Center when it had extensive termite damage some years back.
He helped fundraise over $100,000 and spearheaded Gleason Rotary’s construction of the Gleason Community Center at Mike Snider Park.
Other Gleason Rotary projects Jacky fundraised for through the years have included Huggins Park, the summer youth softball and baseball programs, free swimming lessons for the town’s children at Bethel University, Gleason football field and fieldhouse, and most recently, the construction of the Gleason Rotary Helipad for Life Flight emergency services.